


LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 







THE LITTLE TWIN ROSES 






WE MUST MANAGE IT SOMEHOW, I TELL YOV\'* Page 45 . 



THE 


Little Twin Roses 


A STORY FOR LITTLE GIRLS AND BOYS 



Author oj "The Little Nezv Neighbor,' "Bonnie Little Bonibel," "Dtxn," etc. 


IVITH TEN ILLUSTRATIONS 


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NEW YORK 



E. P. DUTTON AND COMPANY 

31 West Twenty-third Street 
1892 


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Li- 


Copyright, 1892 

By E. P. Dutton and Company 


PBESS OP 

3 Sorf«toeIl ani fi!Ci)tirci)tU 


BOSTON 


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 

“ We AIUST AIANAGE it somehow, I tell you I ” Frontispiece 

“Listen, willie!” 9 

u Kitty was quite heady to cry from disappoint- 
ment” 17 

Going a-fishing 25 

“Wish you’d buy somethin’, ma’am” 31 

Kitty waits, and thinks of those turkeys ... 37 

“ Such a headache I ” 53 

“ So TIRED I ” 55 

A LULLABY DUET WITH THE KETTLE 57 

“ ‘ Gobble, gobble,’ yourselves ” 61 










“ LISTEN, WILLIE ! ” — Page 10 . 


THE LITTLE TWIN ROSES. 


r I they sat at the table eating their supper of 
bread and milk. Very pretty little Roses they 
were, too. Sometimes they were called Wild Roses,” 
sometimes Blush Roses,” and quite frequently they 
deserved to be called Climbing Roses,” as every 
fence and tree on the place could tell you, had 
they only tongues to speak and tell tales. 


10 


THE LITTLE TWIN ROSES. 


J list now they were out of mischief, these little 
twins, for Mamma Rose had given them their early 
supper, and soon they would be snug and safe in 
their small beds, and out of harm’s way till the 
sunbeams should hunt them up again. 

Listen, Willie!” 

‘^M’m listenin’.” 

There’s Rosebud a-cryin’ again.” 

“ That ain’t anythin’ new ; she’s forever a-cryin’ 
lately.” 

Willie paused in the act of tilting his cup for its 
last drop of milk, as he spoke, and Kitty stopped stir- 
ring the lump of sugar in hers, as they listened with 
grave little faces to baby’s cry in the next room. 

Baby Rose, or, as she was oftener called, Rose- 
hud,'' was being teased and fretted by one or two 
wee pearls of teeth which were pushing through the 
sensitive little gums, and making life very miserable 
for the little bud of sweetness so dear to the family 
of Roses. 

For several nights mamma had been kept awake 
by baby’s restlessness, and during the days it had 


THE LITTLE TWIN ROSES. 


11 


been one constant eHort to make baby comfortable, 
and so she had grown very tired and anxious, this 
dear, patient mamma ; and the little twins felt sorry 
for her, and almost .vexed with the poor little Rose- 
bud, who didn’t know really just how much trouble 
she was making. 

The twins went on with their supper, and Rose- 
bud’s little plaintive wail subsided gradually, while 
mamma sang lullabies wearily, and the shadows of 
night fell softly down from the skies above. 

Oh, dear ! don’t you wish we were rich folks, 
Willie ? ” asked Kitty, presently, with a little sigh. 
Guess I do. Kit, but what’s the use wishin’ ? ” 
Oh, I’d go an’ buy mamma the beautifulest 
things, an’ make her have such easy times.” 

‘^But shed be rich, too, if we were, an’ could 
buy beautiful things her own self, an’ — ” 

But maybe we’d have somethin’ ’sides bread an’ 
milk for our supper nights, an’ we could have silk 
things to wear like those child’en at the hotel down 
yonder. But ’tain’t the leastest use wishin,’ cause I 
most know we won’t ever be rich like them.” 


12 


THE LITTLE TWIX HOSES. 


there’s lots poorer ’n ive are, Kitty Kose ; 
we don’t have to wear rags like beggars we read 
of in our story-books, an’ we have other things 
’cept bread an’ milk when its breakfast an’ dinner, 
you know. ’Sides, papa, he’s got a ship somewhere 
what’s goin’ to bring him lots of money some 
day.” 

Why, Willie Rose, what a great, big story ! I 
don’t b’lieve papa’s got a sliij) at all, else we’d 
seen it sailin’ sometime.” 

He has, too, ’cause one night I heard him tell 
mamma that when his ship came home she shouldn’t 
be so bothered ’bout things, an’ he could take some 
rest ; so now, do you think I told a big story ? ” 
Kitty was quite puzzled. Strange she had never 
known that her father owned a ship ! where was 
it sailing now, she wondered, and why didn’t he 
take them all for a sail in it, and let them have 
fun like the people at the hotel who went sailing 
in the lake sometimes ? Well, it was all very 
strange, and she meant to ask grandma about it 
the first chance she got. 


THE LITTJ.E TWIN HOSES. 


13 


When the supper was finished, the twins scampered 
out to the small garden to have a race and frolic 
before going to bed ; (oh, how they hated to go to 
bed !) and after baby was sound asleep, and laid 
softly down in her little crib, mamma called her 
wild Roses in to get ready for their night’s rest. 

It isn’t half dark yet, mamma,” complained 
Kitty, reluctant to leave the grassy playground before 
she had had one more game of tag ” with Willie. 

All the duckies have gone to roost, don’t you 
see ? ” she replied, with a smile, and why should 
mine be up and about at the nesting-time ? ” 

We ain’t chickies, mamma,” laughed roguish 
Willie, ^Ave’re Roses, an’ the roses are staying up, 
see?” He pulled off a rose, as he spoke, and held 
it up to her. 

Ah, if the little rose had hidden away in its 
bed of leaves, it would have been out of harm’s 
way, wouldn’t it?” she replied, and a mischievous 
little hand could not have torn it from the mother- 
bush. Come, little son, say good-night to all out- 
doors, and get into your bed as soon as possible.” 


14 


THE LITTLE TWIN HOSES. 


It didn’t take long for that business, and soon 
the moonbeams stole in through the open window 
of a quiet, small chamber, and shone tenderly about 
the beds where our twin Roses were sleeping peace- 
fully side by side, the dark-haired little sister and 
the fair-haired, blue-eyed little brother. 


The next morning Kitty, happening to remember 
the ship ” of which Willie had told her, went to 
grandma’s room for a private conversation. 

Sitting on a little stool at the dear old lady’s 
knee, Kitty began : 

Gran’ma, where’s papa’s ship?” 

Grandma’s eyes opened wide behind her spectacles. 

Papa’s what ? ” she asked. 

Papa’s ship, you know ; where’s he sailin’ it, 
gran’ma ? ” 

Bless me, child, what do you mean ? Papa has 
nothing to do with a ship.” 

Oh, yes,” gravely, for Willie heard him tell 
mamma ’bout it, an’ it’s cornin’ in some day with. 


THE LITTLE TAVIX LOSES. 


15 


oh, a lot of money, an’ Ave’re all goin’ to be rich, 
gran’ma, an’ 1 Avant you to tell me all ’bout Avhere 
it’s sailin’ to now, an’ Avhere did papa buy it?” 

How old grandma did laugh, and how indignant 
little Kitty was ! Grandma chuckled and chuckled, 
and her fat, short body shook all over, and joggled 
Kitty’s head as it lay against grandma’s knee. 

But finally the laugh subsided, and the dear old 
face grew less merry, and the soft old hand rested 
lovingly on Kitty’s tangled dark locks. 

My darling, Willie didn’t understand just what 
papa meant, and you have neither of you heard 
the old saying, 1 suppose, ^ Avhen my ship comes in,’ 
so, of course, you didn’t kno\A^ AA^hat papa really 
meant. Grandma Avill explain ; but what were you 
and AYillie talking about, and when did Willie hear 
the remark ? ” 

Kittie was quite ready to cry from disappointment, 
but she bravely kept back the tears, and explained 
to grandma the conversation she and Willie had 
had the evening before, and she couldn’t bear to give 
up the anticipation even yet, that one fine day 


16 


THE LITTLE TWIN KOSES. 


papa would have a ship come sailing in all full of 
good things for them all. 

Grandma explained the “ saying ” (which even all 
my little readers know about, so old a saying it is), 
and explained also to discontented Kitty how mnch 
she had to he thankful for, and how mnch better 
off she and Willie were, notwithstanding the fact 
that papa had to work hard for the support of 
his family. She reminded Kitty of the fact that 
many little girls and boys had no dear mother and 
father, and that they (the twins) could not be 
grateful enough for the blessing of their own dear 
parents, and the little rosebud of a baby besides ; and 
she made her comprehend, too, that all the riches 
in the world could not make a person happy unless 
there was a contented heart and loving, kindly dis- 
position behind it all. And Kitty nestled closer to 
grandma’s knee, and began to love mamma, papa, 
baby, grandma, and Willie more and more from that 
very minute. Pretty soon she climbed into grandma’s 
lap and put two loving little arms about the dear 
old neck. 


KITTY WAS QUITE READY TO CRY FROM DISAPPOINTMENT.” Page 15 . 


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THE LITTLE TWIN ROSES. 


19 


Willie an’ I ought to be very good an’ sweet 
’cause we’re Roses^ you know, gran’ma, an’ roses 
are always so sweet and nice. I don’t care if papa 
isnt rich like hotel folks, he’s dear, an’ so are you, 
an’ mamma’s precious, an’ Rosebud’s the bestest 
baby when she ain’t cry in’ an’ worry in’ mamma, 
an’ Willie an’ I, we love each other lots, we do, 
an’ — oh, gran’ma, I don’t care if there aint any 
ship ! ” 

So she ran singing and skipping out of the room 
in search of Willie. She found him sitting in the 
swing disconsolately. 

If I were a girl twin an’ had a boy twin, I 
guess I wouldn’t go hidin’ away from him jus’ to 
be mean, I wouldn’t!” he complained. ‘‘1 couldn’t 
find you any place at all.” 

Why, Willie Rose ! you’re cross as can be, an’ 
— an’ you’re a — a Rose with a big thorn stickin’ 
out an’ prickin’ me, you are! I ain’t been anywhere 
to hide, only in my gran’ma’s room, an’ there ain’t 
any ship at all, not the leastest bit of a ship sailin’ 
home to j)apa, for gran’ma told me so her own 


20 


THE LITTLE TWIN ROSES. 


self, an’ she says that’s only a say in , an’ means 
when people want anythin’ very much, oh, dre fully, 
they make a plan to get it, an’ then they keep 
hopin’ things will turn out right, an’ they make 
believe they’ve got a ship sailin’ from a way-oh 
shore, all full of good things for ’em, an’ when the 
good things dont keep cornin’, they say, ^Never mind, 
some day my ship’ll come home an’ bring ’em ; ’ 
that’s all it means, you see, Willie, so papa was 
only tryin’ to comfort himself and mamma by makin’ 
believe, an’ that’s lots better ’n whinin’ an’ frettin’, 
an’ bein’ discouraged, gran’ m a says.” 

Willie listened attentively to this speech, and com- 
prehended it thoroughly, and, like Kitty, had his 
disappointment, and bravely kept back tears, before 
he was ready to take the second instalment of 
gran’ma’s conversation with Kitty. 

He was an affectionate little fellow, and as ready 
as his twin sister to be a fragrant Kose in the 
bower of roses which he called Home. 

He and Kitty were so good all that day, keeping 
out of mischief, and helping mamma all they could, 


THE LITTLE TWIN ROSES. 


21 


that she was quite amazed, and wondered what 
had come over her Wild Roses all of a sudden. 
That speech of hers turned them speedily into 
Blush Roses,” for somehow they felt as if they 
were keeping a secret from mamma, and that was 
something quite new for them. 

At their quiet little bread and butter supper that 
night, Willie confided to Kitty that he saw grandma 
knitting some slippers that afternoon, and she had 
told him as a secret that they were a present for 
mamma on her birthday. She said it was a secret, 
but I don’t b’lieve she meant me not to tell my 
twin sister, do you ? ” he added, a little anxiously. 
And Kitty replied, seriously, Oh, no, ’cause we’re 
same as one, you know. I didn’t know mamma’s 
birthday was for ever so long, did you ? ” 

No ; an’, oh, Kitty, ixijpa won’t be home ! He 
said in his last letter he couldn’t come till fall, 
an’ here it is right in the middle of the summer, 
an’ the birthday comes next week, grandma says.” 

Oh, Willie ! ” She clasped her hands with the last 
exclamation, and compressed her lips as though 


22 


THE LITTLE TWIN ROSES. 


bursting to tell something she was not quite ready 

to confide. 

You made me most jump an’ spill my milk,” 

said the boy, half pettishly. 

Well, but I’ve got a splendid idea, Willie Rose, 

an’ it must be every bit our own secret, too, else 

it won’t be any fun at all.” 

Willie was all ears, and pushed his empty bowl 
away, wiping his moist little lips with the back 

of his hand instead of his napkin, and prepared 

to agree with his twin in everything she sug- 

gested. 

Kitty having finished also, the two retired to a 
private corner, and the following conversation went 
on in excited whispers : 

Willie, we must give Mamma Rose a birthday 

present as well as gran’ma, an’ we jus’ got to go 
ahead an’ do it ’thout lettin’ her ’spect a single 
thing ’bout it, you see.” 

Willie saw. 

^^An’ we must think of somethin’ awful nice, an’ 
jus’ what she’s been a-w antin’ mostest, if we can. 


THE LITTLE TWIN HOSES. 


23 


you know, so’s to make her gladder ’n the slippers 
will make her.” 

Willie nodded excitedly. 

An’ you’ll lie sure not to let on ’bout it ? ” 
Course not,” replied Willie, indignantly. 

’Pon your word an’ sacred honor?” 

Oh, yes, I tell yon, Kitty Rose, ain’t yon ever 
a-goin’ to believe a body ? ” 

‘•'■ Well, now let’s guess what mamma wants very 
much; inavl^e — ” 

^^Oh, I know!” interrupted Willie, for don’t 
yon know she said one day to papa she did wish 
we had turkeys ? They’d he a nice in — invester, or 
somethin’ like that, an’ papa, he said maybe some- 
time lie’d manage to get lier some.” 

Well, he ain’t managed yet,” replied Kitty, glee- 
fully, so maybe loe can, Willie, an’, oh, won’t it 
be the hestest fun we ever had?” 

“ I wonder wliat an ^ invester ’ is, anyway,” said 
Willie, somewhat anxiously ; “ do yon s’pose it’s a 
partic’ler kind of a turkey ? ” 

Maybe it’s a very nice, tender kind that makes 


24 


THE LITTLE TWIN ROSES. 


nice Tlianksgivin’s, you know,” replied Kitty, quite 
Avisely, in lier opinion, for Avhat else Avould lier 
mother want turkeys for if not to eat Avlieii Tlianks- 
giving-tiine came ? 


So now the twins had a real secret from mamma, 
and the first thing for them to do was to earn, 
as secretly as possible, a little money with Avhich to 
go to a farmer who lived a long way olf — they 
had been there once in a Avagon Avith their father 
— and buy a turkey or tAvo from the many he 
OAvned. That the money must be earned Avas very 
certain, but how to earn it they didn’t knoAV, and 
greAv quite Avorried over the matter. They Avere 
strongly tempted at one time to go to grandma, 
but resisted the temptation, and determined to put 
the AAdiole business through by themseh^es, by hook 
or by crook. And finally by hook ” they started 
it in this Avay : 

It Avas a bright morning Avhen Willie and Kitty 
started olf in high glee, by mamma’s permission, to 
haA^e a little picnic of their OAvn doAvn by the 



GOING A-FiSHiNG. — Page 27 






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THE LITTLE TWIN ROSES. 


27 


brook a short distance from the little home. Baby 
Rose was unusually troublesome that morning, and 
mamma had her hands full, and grandma too, for 
that matter, and the twins asked so innocently if 

they might go on their little picnic and have a 
nice time, and they promised so earnestly to take 
care and not get into mischief, and the day was 
so bright and glad, and they had been so used to 
going on walks and wandering about by themselves, 
never getting into serious trouble of any kind, that, 
to tell the truth, I think mamma and grandma 
were rather glad to have the house quiet for a 

time. So off they started, with basket and fishing- 
pole, for Willie had whispered to Kitty his plan to 
catch fish and sell them to the hotel people, and 
maybe earn enough in that way to buy the 

turkeys. 

Very happy little folks they were as they went 
gayly along the road and finally turned into the 
woods by the brook. But oh, dear me ! what a 

pity it was that not a single little fish was goosie 
enough to be caught! Willie’s hook was an old one, 


28 


THE LITTLE TWIX ROSES. 


and he didn’t know how to bait it very well, and 
Kitty conldn’t bear to touch a worm. So after a 
while they gave up fishing in despair and ate the 
nice luncheon grandma had put up for them, with 
only half the appetite they would liave had with 
better luck. Finally, I don’t care ! ” cried Kitty, 
starting up. If we can’t get fish to sell, we can 
try ferns an things, ’cause sometimes folks buys ’em 
at the hotel. I saw a girl sellin’ some once, myself, 
an’ the ladies paid her for ’em right off. Let’s try.” 

Willie was ready, and the more so because he 
couldn’t fish any more if he wanted to, for his rod 
— a long switch cut from a tree, and not strong 
at its best — suddenly broke in two, and his line 
and hook caught in a stone and snapped off, and 
he was altogether a very disgusted little fisherman. 

So the twins gathered a quantity of fragrant ferns 
and wood blossoms, and filling their basket started 
for the village hotel, not far off. On the way Kitty 
was seized with the brilliant idea of filling her din- 
ner-pail with berries which were growing along the 
roadside. 


THE LITTLE TWIN ROSES. 


29 


‘‘Folks always are hungry for berries,” she said, 
and Willie stopped pulling and eating berries him- 
self, and helped his sister fill the pail with the 
pretty red raspberries which he felt sure somebody 
would want to buy. When they reached the village 
— both feeling a little troubled in their hearts lest 
mamma would not have been quite willing to trust 
them so far — Kitty decided to try the experiment 
of calling at the kitchen doors of some houses along 
the way, while Willie went straight to the big hotel 
piazza with his basket of ferns and pretty flowers. 
They were carefully covered from the sun, and he 
hoped they would look quite fresh and pretty for 
his anticipated customers. 


The piazza of the hotel seemed quite crowded with 
guests as Willie drew near, and everybody was well 
dressed, and seemed happy as could be. There was 
plenty of laughing and talking, and even singing 
going on, and there were fat, healthy babies with 
their nurses and rich mammas, and little boys and 


30 


THE LITTLE TWIN ROSES. 


girls of the same age as he and Kitty, and they 
were dressed in fine clothes, and having such gay 

times, with nothing to do but be happy. 

As Willie began to ascend the broad steps at the 
main piazza, one of the gentlemen saw him, and 

called out carelessly, Needn’t come up, little boy, 
we don’t want to buy anything to-day;” and poor 
Willie, blushing furiously because everybody turned 
and looked at him, and feeling so disappointed he 
didn’t know how he could keep the tears out of his 
blue eyes, turned away and walked slowly on. 

Maybe he did give a little stifled sob, because he 

couldn’t help it, and he was only seven years old, 

— such a little fellow, you know, — or maybe when he 
drew his sleeve across his eyes somebody saw him ; 
at any rate, just as he passed the corner of the 
house where there was a little lonely piazza, quite 
apart from the large crowded one behind him, a 
sweet voice called, What’s the matter, little boy ? ” 
and there was a young girl lounging in a steamer 
chair, and trying to keep cool with her fan and her 
magazine. I don’t think she was more than fourteen 


WISH you’d buy somethin’, ma’am.” — Page 33 . 



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THE LITTLE TWIX ROSES. 


33 


years old, but to Willie she looked like a real young 
lady, and so he ascended the steps with his basket, 
and said, very politely : 

I wish you’d buy somethin’, ma’am.” 

Now, little Miss Sallie Lunn (we will call her that, 
because, perhaps, she’d rather I would not give her 
real name) was not used to being addressed as 
ma’am,” and it gave her a very dignified feeling to 
hear herself so addressed by AYillie just now. Conse- 
quently she took an immediate interest in him, and 
asked what he had for sale. 

He set his basket down at her feet, and dis- 
played his ferns, and some pretty red berries, and 
other wild flowers which we often find hidden away 
in the beautiful woods every summer. 

Some people — more’s the pity — don’t care for such 
things, and won’t take the trouble to look for them ; 
but, on the other hand, a great many lovers of 
Nature and of her beautiful treasures are met with 
in this dear old world of ours, and to such Miss 
Sallie Lunn, very fortunately for Willie, belonged. 

So she put down her magazine and fan and looked 


34 


THE LITTLE TWIN HOSES. 


over Willie’s basket, and bought quite a large bunch 
of ferns for pressing, and then she kindly called 
one or two of her friends from the crowd on the 
main piazza and induced them to buy also. And 
before ten minutes had passed, lo and behold ! the 
boy’s basket was quite empty, and he was full of 
smiles and dimples. He couldn’t help confiding to 
Sallie — and wondered a minute after if it was 
breaking his promise to Kitty to have done so, 
though he truly didn’t mean to break his word — that 
he and his sister were going to buy a birthday 
present for mamma, and had to sell things in order 
to get money to buy with. And when she asked 
what he was going to buy, he very nearly blurted 
out Turkeys ! ” in his eagerness. But he caught 
himself in time, and all Sallie heard was the sound 
of 1^,” and she could hardly make anything out 
of that. Willie blushed a good deal as he explained 
why he couldn’t tell more, ’cause it was such a 
secret, an’ Kitty had told him to be sure not to 
tell a single soul.” 

Ohj very well, then, never mind, you’ll tell me 


THE LITTLE TWl?^ ROSES. 


35 


some day, and I’m going to help you all I can. 
You can bring me some more ferns to-morrow, and 
get the smallest you can, because I want to press 
them ; they make very nice decorations in winter, 
and I shouldn’t wonder a bit if some of the other 
ladies bought some too.” 

That was very encouraging to Willie, and he slung 
his basket over his arm, and, bidding Miss Sallie 
Lunn good-by, went to the broad village square 
where he had arranged to meet Kitty. 

And there he had quite a ^^wait,” till he grew 
a little frightened, and wished he had stayed at home, 
notwithstanding the pennies knocking together so 
merrily in his pocket in place of the ferns in his 
basket. 

But what was keeping Kitty all this time ? 
Well, the little girl was having an experience, and 
truly this had been, or was being, perhaps I should 
say, a very unusual and odd kind of a day for 
these twin Roses who had strayed so far from their 
own safe bower. 

Kitty had really succeeded in selling her berries. 


36 


THE LITTLE TWIN LOSES. 


and sold them all, in fact, at the first house at 

which she called. Her timid little knock had brought 
to the kitchen door a kind-faced old woman, about 
as old, Kitty thought, as her own grandma at home, 
and so she found her courage, which had been growing 
faint, rising again hopefully, and offered her little 
wares with such an earnest tongue, and such an 
eager pair of eyes, that the woman said cheerily : 

^^Want your berries? of course we do, little one, 
and I’d like to buy you too. What is your name, 

my dear?” So Kitty emptied her pail as Willie 

had his basket, and meanwhile was coaxed out of 

her secret, by the kind questions of the old woman 
(who was some one’s else gran’ma,” though not 
Kitty’s), until she had betrayed even more than 
Willie had dared to. 

La sakes ! what a child you are ! ” laughed the 
woman, patting Kitty’s brown head. “ I do hope 
you’ll get those turkeys, sure enough ; and here, 
now, are a few extra pennies to help you out.” 

Kitty blushed very red for pure joy, and made 
a funny little courtesy to her customer, as she sup- 


THE LITTLE TWIN LOSES 


37 



posed was the polite and proper way 
her thanks. 


KITTY WAITS, AND 


THINKS OF THOSE TURKEYS. 









k"- 



Page 38. 


expressing 


38 


THE LITTLE TWIN ROSES. 


You are a very nice, kind lady ! ” she said, 
and I shall ask my brother Willie to thank you, 
too, in his heart.” 

“ Do so, my little dear,” replied the woman, kindly, 
and — wait a minute, sit here until I return.” 

So Kitty sat down in a kitchen chair and 
waited, and thought of those turkeys until she could 
almost hear them gobbfe right there in her ears. 
She had sold her berries for fifteen cents (more 
than they were worth, of course, when berries were 
so plentiful, but you see the woman had been kind 
and generous, because she had taken a liking to 
Kitty), and the extra pennies given as a gift made 

twenty -five cents in all to carry to Willie and put 
with his money, if he had earned any, and, oh, 
how she hoped and hoped he had ! 

Presently the woman came back. I’ve been 

talking to my next-door neighbor,” she said, and 

she wants you to bring her your pail full to the 
brim of berries to-morrow, and after that you can 
bring me some more. And you didn’t tell me, my 
dear, where you expect to get your turkeys. I do 


THE LITTLE TAVIX ROSES. 


39 


hope you won’t be disappointed about them.” So 
Kitty told her of the large farm away out in the 
country. He’s a kind man,” she added, ’cause 

once when papa had something to do ’bout a pig, 

he took me an’ Willie with him, an’ he smiled 
at us real kindly. His name’s Jones, an’ he has, 

oh, such a lot of turkeys ! ” 

The woman laughed. Why, Jones is my name, 

too,” she said. Well, I wish you good fortune, 

dearie.” 

So, swinging her pail by its handle, and in more 

of a flutter than she had ever been in her short 

life before, and as rosy as her name with her glad 
anticipations, Kitty hurried down the road to the 

meeting-place where her brother awaited her so 
impatiently. 

There they compared experiences, and turned home- 
ward, talking as they went, as fast as their little 
tongues could wag. 

And what do you think that nice old woman — 
Kitty’s customer,” as she called her — did the very 
minute the little girl’s back was turned? Why, she 


40 


THE LITTLE TWIX EOSES. 


sat down at her old-fashioned desk and wrote a 
note, and this is what it said : 

Dear Brother Dick : If two mites of children 
come to yon wanting to buy a turkey or two for 
a liandfitl of pennies, don’t you say anything to 
bother them, but let them have the turkeys, and 
pretend they are paying the right price. I will be 
out in a day or two and explain ; but I want you 
to be sure and not disappoint the children. You 
won’t be sorry when I tell you all about it. 
Good-by ; no time for more now, this is baking- 
day, you know. Hope your folks are all well. 

^^Your sister, 

HANNAH.” 

Having written this, and read it over to see if 
she had made things all plain. Miss Jones — or, as 
the village children loved to call the dear little fat 
maiden lady who was so good to them all. Auntie 
Jones — hurried to the post-office and mailed her note 
just a few moments, fortunately, before the stage 


THE LITTLE TWIN ROSES. 


41 


would come along and pick up the mail for de- 
livery farther along a mile or so. 

Meanwhile, our twin roses had made good speed 
towards home. The distance was short, and all they 
had accomplished had not kept them longer from 
their home than the morning of fun and picnicking, 
according to mother’s permission, would have detained 
them. Consequently neither mamma nor grandma 
were at all worried, and imagined the twins to be 
peacefully playing together in the woods so near 
at hand. 

They’ll come home when they’re tired,” said 
grandma, placidly knitting away on her slippers ; and 
as it was only a little after the noon hour, mamma 
expected every minute to hear the wild, merry little 
voices shouting out, as usual, as her twins returned 
hungry and dusty from their impromptu picnic of 
two. 

What a nice, quiet morning it had been, to be 
sure ! and Baby Rose was certainly as good as a 
sick, drooping little Rosebud could be. No childish, 
noisy laugh had awakened her from her morning 


42 


THE LITTLE TWIN ROSES. 


nap, and mamma liad liad plenty of time to attend 
to her duties, for yon must know that she was 
housekeeper, kitchen-maid, cook, and maid, and mis- 
tress of the house, and nurse and mamma, all in 
one, and no wonder she grew very tired sometimes. 
AVell, the twins trotted on over the road, through 
the woods, and out by the lane, until at last, sure 
enough, mamma heard the sound of happy little 
voices, and presently two little figures chased each 
other up the garden path, and tumbled into her arms. 

“ Bless me ! ” said grandma, looking over her spec- 
tacles, what a nice, long picnic you have had ! 
Have you had a splendid time ? ” 

Oh, splendid!'' shouted the twins together, and 
the empty basket and pail Avent flying out on the 
grass, as the children, heedless of order, only thought 
of how they could coax mamma to let them have 
just such a nice picnic to-morrow. 

Mamma, mamma!” they began, but — 

Go first and pick up the basket and pail. They 
don’t belong out on the grass, you know,” said 


mamma. 


THE LITTLE TWIN LOSES . 


43 


Oil, yes,” replied quick-witted Willie, who found 
a place in which to push his wedge in. ^^We must 
be careful of them, of course, ’cause, mamma, we 
want to go on a picnic again to-morrow, it’s such 
fun, an’ — an’ we’ve tooken such good care of us, 
mamma, you see.” 

An’ we don’t keep wakin’ Rosebud up when 
we’re on a picnic,” chimed in Kitty, ^^an’ so I 
should think you’d like us to be Vay,” coaxingly. 

Mamma looked at them in surprise. Two days 
in succession of picnic ? Why, that’s a funny idea ! 
What do you do to have such a good time that 
you can’t wait awhile for another picnic ? ” 

The twins exchanged glances, and grew red as 
the red roses out on the bush. 

Children!” cried mamma, sternly, ^^what are 
you hiding from me ? Are you doing anything 
wrong ? ” 

They threw little arms around her neck, nearly 
choking her in their energy, and rained kisses all 
over her face from their warm little lips, even yet 
sticky with the warmth of the August day. 


44 


THE LITTLE TWIN ROSES. 


Oh, no, no, no, not a single wrong thing, 
mamma ! ” they cried ; and Kitty added, We’re 
only havin’ some fun, an’ when it’s finished we’re 
goin’ to call you an’ gran’ma to see it.” 

Very well. I’ll trust you,” said mamma ; you 
may go to-morrow, but I do hope you will be very 
careful, and not be naughty in any of your plans.” 

With a whoop (and that woke baby up, sure 
enough) the twins bounded away, while grandma 
said in her grandmotherly way, Lor, dear, I sup- 
pose the little souls are building a dam in the 
brook, and are as proud of their work as if they 
were real bridge-builders ! ” 


The next day had just such a fine, bright morn- 
ing as the children had enjoyed before, as they 
started bright and early for the picnic ” in the 
woods. 

The luncheon was eaten at once, so as to make 
room for the berries in the pail, and the ferns were 
gathered by quantities for the basket. Dainty little 


THE LITTLE TWIN ROSES. 


45 


ferns, such as Sallie Liinn, you remember, had asked 
Willie to bring her, and pretty blossoms, and little 
trailing vines, all found a place, huddling together 
in a fragrant confusion in the basket, and covered 
from the hot sun-rays by the napkins grandma had 
provided for the lunch. Then the children sat down 
by the roadside to discuss matters. 

How we goin’ to go an’ buy those turkeys, I’d 
jus’ like to know, Willie Rose, when mamma was 
so ’fraid to let us come off alone ’gain to-day ? 
It’s a dreffiil long way to that man’s house, an’ we 
won’t get back for so late, an’ mamma’ll scold an’ 
be so worried ! ” 

We must manage it somehow, I tell you ! ” re- 
plied Willie. ‘^1 wouldn’t be such a ’fraid-girl ’f I 
were you, Kitty Rose ! We can ask mamma to let 
us take a walk, an’ then we can run as fast as 
anythin’, an’ — well, we can’t help it if we are 
scolded; it’ll be all for her sake, an’ she’ll be sorry 
when she knows what we were doin all that time 
she thought we were bein’ naughty.” 

We can’t make b’lieve we were losted, ’cause 


46 


THE LITTLE TWIN EOSES. 


that would be a story ; an’ if mamma didn’t know 
it, God, that’s up in heaven, would, ’cause He’s 
always seein’ us, you know.” 

Oh, no ! loe don’t tell stories, we ain’t that kind, 
and ’sides, that would spoil our present to mamma. 
But maybe — oh, Kitty, maybe we’ll get losted really 
an’ truly, an’ then — then w'e can’t help it, an’ it 
won’t be a story.” 

But I don’t want to have that happen,” whined 
Kitty ; I’d get drehul scared if it really did.” 

Willie picked up his basket and shrugged his fat 
little shoulders. 

Come on,” he said, ’taint any use th inkin’ things 
now; we’ve jus’ got to go somehow, an’” — he put 
his little lips close to Kitty’s ear and whispered — 
^^gran’ma says the Father in heaven loves little 
children, an’ I ’most feel sure He knows how we 
want to get those turkeys for our dear, sweet, 

darlin’ mamma, when she’s so patient an’ good, an’ 
so tired, an’ has got a birthday cornin’, an’ — an’ 

He’ll jus’ fix a way for us to get ’em, see if He 
don’t.” That was a comforting thought to both 


THE LITTLE TWIN ROSES. 


47 


children, and they went on their way, filling the 

pail with berries as they walked along. 

We need not take time nor space to go through 
with the details of the visit to the village this time, 
because we already know that as the children were 
expected, they were profited accordingly, and when 
they turned homeward again they had, all in all, 
the handling of fifty cents in pennies and nickels. 
Kitty’s kind Miss Jones — to whom she had this 

time found a chance to introduce Willie — had 
counted their money for them (as they, the seven- 

year-old twins, were hardly arithmeticians as yet), 
and they felt as rich as kings and queens, as they 
trudged home, quite deterniined to take the first 
chance offered and set out on the journey turkey- ward. 

Where to keep that precious money was a matter 
of serious thought and grave importance, but finally 
Kitty decided to hide it in dolly’s stocking, and 

shut dolly, with her mine of wealth, up in the 
playhouse closet till she could be relieved of her 
responsibility later on. 


48 


THE LITTLE TWIN ROSES. 


Well, days — a very few of them — went on iin- 
excitedly enough after that, so far as appearances 
went ; but the twin Roses were ready to droop and 
hang their pretty heads in despair as the birthday 
drew near, and they were still puzzling how to go 
the long distance for the wonderful birthday gift. At 
last, however, Willie plucked up courage, and bravely 
told mamma that he and Kitty were jus’ crazy 
an’ pinin’ away for a reg’ler long walk ’way up the 
road, an’ if she’d let ’em go an’ promise to trus 
’em, an’ not be scared if they didn’t get home for 
’most dinner-time, they’d be so good afterwards she 
wouldn’t have to scold ’em ever again ! ” 

She laughed and asked grandma what she thought, 
and of course grandma sided with her pets; and the 
long and short of it all was that they did start off 
the very next morning, quivering all over with 
suppressed excitement and happy anticipation. 

They walked and walked straight on, as they 
remembered the road their father had taken, and 
by more good fortune, when, by and by, they came 
to a fork in the road, they turned in the right 


THE LITTLE TWIN LOSES. 


49 


direction, and so at last readied the farm, and asked 
for Mr. Jones. A nice, jolly old fellow lie was, as 
good-natured as his sister, and so like her in looks 

that Kitty wondered if all fat, kind people looked 
like each other. 

He put his hands in his pockets and spread his 
feet apart comfortably, and looked quizzically down 
upon the twins before him. 

^^Wal, I declar’ ! ” he chuckled, ^df you ain’t as 

like as two peas in a pod. If you both had hair 
the same color, I declar’ I shouldn’t know which 

from t’other. Wal ! what can I do for ye?” 

Willie explained, helped along by Kitty in a con- 
fusing sort of way, which would have puzzled the 
farmer if his sister’s note hadn’t reached him in 
advance of the turkey buyers. 

Oh, I see, ye want to buy three turkeys of me. 
Can ye afford it, do ye think ? ” 

Oh, yes, sir ; we’ve got fifty centses ! ” replied 
Kitty, beginning to untie the knot in her handker- 

chief. The man chuckled, and shook all over with 
the laugh he couldn’t wholly restrain. 


50 


THE LITTLE TWIN HOSES. 


^‘Wal, turkeys is usually a leetle more’n that in 
price, but I’m havin’ a sale just now an’ want to 
clear out some of them turkeys, an’ so being as it’s 
you twins. I’ll sell ’em at your price.” 

Oh, thank you ! you’re a kind man, like a lady 
we know in the village!” exclaimed Kitty; and Willie 
added impulsively, You’re as kind to us as if we 
were your twins ’stead of papa’s an’ mamma’s.” 

That pleased the farmer, and set him shaking 
again. Then he showed the children the turkeys 
they could have, — a fine big one and two smaller 
ones ; and after they had finished capering about for 
joy, the question of how to get them home ” 
arose. 

Oh, we never thought of that,'' said Kitty to 
Willie. 

So we didn’t,” replied Willie to Kitty. 

Wal, can’t your folks send for ’em?” questioned 
the farmer. 

The twins looked startled. 

Oh, no, no ! no, sir ! ” cried Willie. You see 

it’s a birthday present to my mamma, an’ we 


THE LITTLE TWIN ROSES. 


51 


wouldn’t have her know till we show it to her.” 
Then the children explained all their plan, and the 
farmer was full of interest, of course. Finally it was 
agreed that he should get the turkeys over when he 
went to the village, as he had to do soon, and put 
them in a little corner lot which happened to be 
fenced on all sides, and where papa kept odd tools 
and rubbish sometimes ; they would be safe there 
till mamma could see them. And the good-natured 
farmer, finding that the birthday would occur on the 
day after to-morrow, agreed to make his trip past 
the Rose Bower ” on that morning early, and leave 
the turkeys without being seen, as the lot in ques- 
tion was behind some high bushes, and in the rear 
of the house. 

He claimed a kiss from each twin to complete 
the bargain, and then the little travellers started for 
home. Oh, what a hot day it was ! And how long 
the walk seemed ! When they reached the fork of 
the road they were puzzled, and ready to cry at 
last. Kitty’s dread of getting ^Mosted” returned, and 
Willie was too tired to think which was the right 


52 


THE LITTLE TWIN LOSES. 


or wrong way. The sun had mounted high up in 
the sky by this time, and the noon hour was at 
hand. 

But at last — perhaps the dear guardian angel, 
whom we like to fancy keeps loving watch over 
little children and keeps them from harm, helped our 
twin Roses to choose the right way, for they took 
it, tempted by the shade of trees which the other 
road lacked, and finally reached the cool little home, 
where mamma was beginning to be anxious for 
them. 

Neither of the children cared for dinner with 
their usual hearty appetites, and when, by and by, 
Willie began to look flushed, and wanted to put 
his head down on grandma’s knee, and said baby’s 
crying hurt him in his forehead, it was plain to 
be seen that he had that very unusual thing for 
him, a headache, and a bad one, too. 

Would he go and get into bed and be quiet?” 

No, he didn’t want to ; he wanted to sit up 
and be well pretty soon.” 

Would he let grandma give him some medicine?” 


THE TITTLE TWIN ROSES. 


53 



“SUCH A headache!” — Page 52. 


not yet; he wanted to wait and see if he 
wouldn’t soon be better.” 

He was getting to be very cross and miserable, 
and mamma regretted sincerely that she had allowed 
the children to take so long a walk. She didn’t 
know that they had run most of the way, poor 
little things ! so as not to be late home. To 


54 


THE LITTLE TWIN ROSES. 


have told her that would have let out part of the 
secret. 

So she fixed him a nice bowl of milk porridge, 
and tied his head in a wet towel, and let him sit 
quietly in his chair until he felt it wiser to go to 
bed and to sleep. Meanwhile, where was Kitty ? 
Grandma, going through the upper hall a few 

moments later, saw a little figure huddled on the floor 
against the wall, near the dolly’s house, with dolly 
sprawling at its side, and Kitty No. 2 snuggled 
in its lap. The little figure proved to be Kitty 

Rose, and fast asleep, too, as a tired, worn-out 
little maid could be. 

She had tried so hard not to let mamma know 
how very tired and uncomfortable she was, and she 
had gone so bravely to play with her doll and 
kitten, trying to forget her tiredness and the sleepy 
feeling she wasn’t used to right in the middle of 
the day. 

But, oh, dear! it was of no use. Sleep caught 

little Kitty Rose right there in the midst of her 

play, and so grandma found her. Before long they 


THE LITTLE TWIN LOSES. 55 

were both in bed, however, and dreaming of turkeys 
as big as their own selves. 



so tired!” — Page 54. 


By-oh, baby dear, by -by ! 

Hush, my Kosebiid, do not cry ! 
Little birds are in the nest. 
Going softly now to rest. 


56 


THE LITTLE TWIN EOSES. 


My wee bird must slumber too, 
Sweetly, all the long night through. 
Till the sunbeams come to say, 

^ Wake up, baby, it is day ! ’ 
By-oh-by, my baby dear, 

Mother loves you, do not fear. 

On your mother’s loving breast 
You, sweet bird, shall go to rest. 
Lullaby, oh, lullaby. 

Stars are peeping from the sky ; 
By-oh-by, my Rosebud dear. 

Mother loves you, do not fear.” 


To and fro, to and fro, rocked Mamma Rose, 
with baby in her arms, and the kettle singing 
away to make a sort of duet with her voice. 

The twins snug in bed, and baby soon to be, 
she and grandma would have a nice, cosey supper 
by themselves, and a good, long evening to sew. 

Mamma was thinking of many things as she sat 
there before the stove at the close of a rainy day. 


LULLABY DUET WITH THE KETTLE. — Page 5G 








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THE LITTLE TWIN HOSES. 


51 ) 


when there had been little of August weather 

warmth and cheer, and the twins had been dolefully 
confined to the house. 

It was well for them that they had gone to buy 
their turkeys the day before, since the weather had 
so suddenly changed in the night, and brought about 
such a miserable kind of day as this had been 
Baby had cried a good deal, the twins had been, 
good and naughty by turns (quite forgetful of their 
promise the day before when the longed-for walk 

had been granted them), and poor, tired mamma 
was olad to sit down in her rocker before the 
comfortable warmth of the stove, and rock and sing 
her Rosebud to sleep. But as she sang, her thoughts 
were on many things. To-morrow would be her 
birthday, and for the first time in many years her 
husband would not be with her, to take her in his 
arms and count her years in loving kisses, as her 
children loved to do. That was one sad thought 
to mix in with baby’s lullaby. Then she knew that 
times were hard with them lately ; that was one 

reason poor papa was kept away so long from 


GO 


THE LITTLE TWIN^ K08ES. 


home, trying in every way to see how he could 
better his circumstances. Then, again, baby was so 
sick, and there was danger that she might grow 
worse. All these were rather grave thoughts, you 
see, and perhaps the gloomy day had turned them so. 

But when, pretty soon, grandma came in and 
lighted the lamps, and the curtains were drawn 
snugly, and the nice little healthy supper was 
finished, and the mother and daughter sat down to 
sew together, mending little garments, and loving the 
little wearers so much, why, then the sad thoughts flew 
away with the vanished shadows, and mamma was as 
bright as could be, and just as gay as if she had 
discovered the secret of the twins, and knew what a 
be-yowtiful present” woidd await her in the morning. 

Early on the morning of the birthday — the next 
morning, as I have said, to the doleful rainy one — 
the twin Boses awoke, all full of happy thoughts. 


Had Mr. Jones remembered his promise? Oh, if 
he should have forgotten, what should they do ? ” 


GOBBLE, GOBBLE,’ YOURSELVES.” — Page 63 


1 







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Sir 




•ft V 




THE LITTLE TWIX HOSES. 


63 


They dressed themselves as far as they could 
without help (only asking grandma to button the 
toppest button” and ^Hie the little, soft bow in 
front ”), and then away they flew into the garden, 
behind the thick bushes, and down to the little 
three-cornered plot of ground where they hoped to 
find the turkeys. 


Ah ! there they were, the three of them ! the 
lovely, precious turkeys.” Oh, how AVillie and Kitty 
did jump up and down, and look over the fence, 
and hop up and down again ! 

Gobble, gobble,” said the turkeys ; and the big 
one strutted about, so vain, and with such airs. 

^ Gobble, gobble,’ yourselves,” answered the twins, 
as they scampered back to the house. 

Mamma ! mamma ! ” they cried, pulling at her 
gown. And you, too, gran’ma ! oh, do. come and 
see something we’ve found in the yard ! ” 

Wondering what it could be, the mother and old 
lady followed the twins, and — can you guess better 


64 


THE LITTLE TAVIN HOSES. 


than I can tell you what happened when mamma 
saw her birthday gifts from her twin Roses, her 

Wild Roses, her Blush Roses, her sweet, sioeet little 
Roses ? How she stared, and how she laughed, and 

how she finally sat down in the grass and cried ^ 

because of the love and thoughtfulness of her little 
twins, and of all the trouble they had taken for 
her sake ! 

They told her all about it from beginning to end, 
and grandma had to wipe her spectacles a great 
many times before the story was done. 

And as their story finishes, so must mine, dear 
little readers ; and now we will say good-by to the 
twin Roses and the Rosebud, and hope that they 
may continue to bloom and grow amidst the brightest 
sunshine the beautiful skies can spare them for 

many years. 


THE END. 



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